Eurovision Chief Says No New Israel Vote After EBU Ballot

Times of Israel reported at 18:02 IDT that Eurovision director Martin Green ruled out another vote on Israel's participation, saying the EBU membership spoke conclusively. Green told Variety that almost 70% of members decided public broadcasters are not responsible for governments and that Kan should be allowed to participate. ESCToday carried the same quote and said he also rejected claims that the boycott by Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain created a financial crisis; ToI's December vote report recorded the 738-264 reform vote and Kan's cultural-boycott rebuttal. Israel's place on cultural stages should not be held hostage by anti-Israel politics when its public broadcaster meets the rules and its artists compete openly.